Thriving in the New Work From Home Environment
If you’re anything like us, the sudden switch to working from home might have come instantly and unexpectedly, wrapped in curiosity as you feel around to find your bearings and figure out how to work from home. Company managers had to tackle a whole new way of integrating staff, sustaining company culture, and managing productivity and wellbeing while getting used to their own new way of working. There were big learning curves and major adaptations initially – and we all got on with it and did our best to keep our companies functioning.
But it’s been 18 months now, and it’s obvious many of the changes are here to stay. At some point, it’s essential to reevaluate your situation to see how you can enhance your remote work productivity. Below we discuss working from home tips to incorporate appropriate changes and hold firm boundaries to support your ongoing success.
1. Separate Work and Play
The compartmentalization of the mind is a powerful thing, and you can support your mind in separating work time and personal life by having separate physical spaces for each. Having segregated areas for work and play makes switching in and out of work-mode more significant, so you restrain from being half in each and entirely in neither.
If you don’t have much space to utilize, you can still create a dedicated space for work by installing barriers that separate a desk area or adding office equipment to your work desk.
2. Mark the Start and End of the Workday
Performing an activity before you begin your workday and after you finish can be pivotal to structuring your day and staying productive in your work hours. Even something like a walk around the block can help you transition into and out of work mode, but you can opt for something more significant like a full workout or reading a chapter of your latest novel obsession.
These activities also relax your mind, creating a perfect setting to switch between work and play without the thoughts and stressors seeping over. Little actions like closing your work laptop and organizing your work desk once your day is complete can assist in providing the essential structure that makes your work day more productive, too.
3. Plan Your Personal Time
Without the physical distance between work and home, creating your distance between the two can help establish a boundary that keeps you productive in your work hours. Making plans outside of your work hours is an excellent habit to help you make the most of your work and personal hours.
Now, while this can mean catching up with friends for a weekday dinner, it doesn’t have to. Plans like expanding your cooking repertoire, starting a new book, or attending to your neglected garden are equally valid and inspire you to finish your work tasks within your work hours.
